should say be an angel, if he deserved it, or a devil if he
appreciated it. Then--now and then--be non-existent, charming and
indifferent, when you wanted to hedge--when there was no particular
response. You'll go with me to the Hilliers' party, won't you, as
Charlie will be away?"

"Of course I will--if you like. But will Percy go--and let you go?"

"He says he won't, but I think he will," she replied.

CHAPTER XXI

THE HILLIERS' ENTERTAINMENT

No more had been said between them about the Hilliers' party; and Percy
began to hope that it would be dropped. But on the morning Bertha asked
him if he would like to take her out to dinner first with Madeline;
assuming that, as he had said no more about it, he intended to go.

With those letters upstairs in the box, how could he?

"I simply can't," he answered. "I don't wish to go to that man's house."

"Then must I take Madeline alone?" said Bertha. "In all these years,
Percy, I don't think I've ever been to a party without you."

"And I don't see why you should begin now," he answered.

"But, Percy, I want to go. Only for a few minutes."

"I'd much rather you didn't."

Bertha thought this tyrannical. She had promised Nigel, because he had
implied to her that it would get him out of the domestic difficulty.

"Oh, do, Percy dear. It's treating me as if you didn't trust me. After
all ... if you like I'll swear to arrange never to see Nigel again."

"I wish you would."

"It's only because I think it would look marked."

Percy thought there was something in that, and he didn't dislike the
idea of proving to the person, whoever it was, that had written the
letters, how little effect they had had. Yet, they had left a tinge of
jealousy that would easily be roused again, especially at her
insistence. He noticed that she didn't make the fact that she was
chaperoning Madeline an excuse, as most women would have done. She was
frank about it. Still, he tried once more.

"I don't want you to go."

"But I want to."

She was not particularly fond of opposition, and began to look annoyed.
She thought Percy was beginning to sit on her a little too much.

"Well," he said, "I shall not dine out with you and Madeline first: I
don't care to. But I'll hire an electric motor for you at eleven, and it
shall fetch you at twelve-thirty. If Madeline doesn't want to come
then, she can easily go back alone. It isn't far for her."

"Oh, she won't want to stop any longer t